etsy – kelly hogaboom

a place where my heart feels the safest

November 15, 2015

by kellyhogaboom dailies sewing journal

Halloween sewing is over, and it’s time to make a bunch of wonderful things for little people!

Shown here: “Vesper”, a four-piece ensemble I was inspired to make based on the baby-blue eyes of this lovely little girl I know. I wanted something in winter colors – here, bluebird, deep cherry, periwinkle, and ivory.

Some sewing-pr0n pix:

I made little “fins” out of the interfaced jacket wool, just because. The shell of the hat is a novelty Halloween knit in olive, burnt sienna, bluebird, black, and fuschia. The hat’s cuff is in a jersey knit matching the sweater dress, and the hat is lined in the same periwinkle bamboo the leggings are made of.

The sweater dress was actually the inspiration piece for the whole outfit! Now, there is a time for using a serger, but… to be honest… I rarely use mine. I love the hand-finished look of (in this case) traditional zig-zag. The nubbly sweater knit is very light and semi-sheer. You definitely want a onesie under this gear!

The coat… a Christmas coat in a deep cherry 100% wool, flecked with ivory. Bright red snaps that match the rayon/linen pocket lining and the slipper satin jacket lining. Have I mentioned how much I love slipper satin? It is one of my favorite linings to work with – and it feels wonderful!

How tiny can I make double-welt pockets? PRETTY DERN TINY! Do babies use pockets? THAT IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN! I am always improving my welt pocket prowess. These were made using grosgrain ribbon which allows for a very firm welt.

OOPS I lined the coat with faux fur! A minkee (I think) to be exact. I’m not sure where or when I got this fur – it was in the last year – but it is so very soft. It’s also very rugged as babies – let us be fair – are pretty messy!

A very tiny bit of high-end sweater knit – I had hardly any left after making Phee a sweater last May – finishes the cuffs of these entirely-reversible bamboo leggings. No seams whatsoever to irritate baby’s skin. Finished at the waist with a three-step zig-zag:

So… I was just wondering, was that baby cute? Maybe take another picture to see:

Um – yup!

This ensemble is on Etsy, where a steady trickle of sales has helped us keep food in the fridge. And today I’m finishing my next baby ensemble, for a little boy. Stay tuned!

baby angler fish

January 17, 2015

by kellyhogaboom dailies sewing journal

And I have loved thee, ocean! And my joy
Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be
Borne, like thy bubbles, onward: from a boy
I wanton’d with thy breakers-they to me.

Here’s the thing. I knew I wanted to make a baby angler fish bunting quite a while back. You can easily see why. This little piece is up for sale on Etsy.

This little critter is made from an uber-soft velveteen and lined in one of my favorite formal lining fabrics: a slipper satin, deep purple for this application.

And oh yeah. That is a real glowing lure. I mean COME ON, of course!

Fins are constructed of a waxed cotton – which makes for a leathery feel and a translucence by light.

I knit a little cozy for the lure bulb, which is lit with a battery:

Fully-lined pockets. Because you know how babies need pockets:

Teeth: a 10% wool. I needed some ferocity but everything needs to be really safe and soft!
Happy fishing!

knee-deep in the hoopla!

July 11, 2014

by kellyhogaboom sewing journal

Good news: I hung the most recent pieces of Phoenix’s in fiber art. I am very pleased with the results.

Here’s what’s funny about Phee’s pieces. They are all so good. It’s not really possible to pick a “best” so every now and then I just grab one (as in “Mutant Horse”) and then I scrimp and save to have them embroidered by another artisan (in this case, Nicole from Hoopla). It feels good to support another talented stitcher. It was also fun to swap stories with Nicole – you know, sharing our embroidery yarns. GET IT OH GOD I’M SORRY I’VE BEEN HANGING OUT WITH PUN-STERS

So. Anyway:

I am finally getting confident enough in my own embroidery skills I think I can just start stitching away the next time I feel inspired by someone’s work. I’ll probably want to have a few pieces ready – by Phee or Nels – for my upcoming vacation at the family cabin. If you want me to add a drawing of yours, or one you love, let me know! It’s a wonderfully meditative way to honor someone’s art.

OH SNAP! THIS YETI BUNTING WINS

February 1, 2014

by kellyhogaboom dailies export sewing journal

Have I not been threatening for some time, to make a tiny yeti bunting for a baby? Shown here: exhibit Audra, 15 lbs. 5 oz. of adorable. Audra was a champ. Word on the street is she doesn’t like cameras, but she kept her cool today.

Audra plays innocent here but you know she’s the type of abominable snowman that could straight-up rip your arm from your socket. If by “arm” I meant, “tea scone”, and by “your socket” I meant, “a table of modest height that she was clinging to earlier today”.

A horn! Done up in melton wool with yarn applique. Pattern designed by Ralph AwesomePants Hogaboom.

Feet. Designed by MOI. Watch out for those claws!

What’s the happs? Pearl snaps. BOOM

So who doesn’t like daddies-holding-babies pictures? If you don’t, you have a lot of growing up to do.

Anyway I wrote a bit about construction in the captions of the Flickr tagset. This bunting is listed in my wee Etsy shop and is scheduled for display at a local business – along with two other “monstrous” offerings I’m currently cooking up.

#babycreeps

Parseltongue!

December 30, 2013

by kellyhogaboom dailies sew-a-long

As some of you may have guessed, I sewed and knit and cooked and crafted an awful lot for Christmas. Most of these items I sent off and wrapped up and gifted without taking photographs because I have been one busy – and often overwhelmed – Little Mama since October. However today on our errands I grabbed a few pictures of a couple of the little ones’ gifts.

As per usual, if you click on the photos my Flickr page will give a little construction background, for those interested.

Phee is actually a Hufflepuff but I had a deep green hi-lo 100% cotton corduroy I was dying to work with. I underlined the coat in wool so it is very warm. It is fully-lined and fixed up with a shiny, “scale”-like snakey vintage button!

AND the Slytherin breast pocket patch. Because it is too cool. No, I did not make it but had it made by SewMagicStitches on Etsy.

I also did not knit Phee’s scarf and mittens (not this time anyway!) but ordered them from nuclearkitten, another Etsy shop. I enjoy supporting other crafters and I try to always link back to them to give them credit.

And then there’s Nels. Nels who I am always wanting to grab up. So I had to make him shark mittens. Because I want to bite him.

By the way, I can’t help but notice Nels’ hat is handknit (I bought it from an alpaca farm in Oregon, a while back), and I sewed him his jacket and his pants. AND on the other side of the crafting gives-a-shit spectrum, Nels’ father “fixed” the cuff-latch button with a safety pin, instead of needle & thread. #boo

The mittens were based off Ravelry’s “Deep Blue Sea” pattern (you have to be a member to see the pattern, I think) and were constructed of 100% wool – except for the yarn used for “teeth” – that was cotton. I really enjoyed these mittens and I think I should make a super-tiny pair for someone. AMIRITE or what

an eye, but no head, and can hang on a thread

November 2, 2013

by kellyhogaboom dailies sewing journal

Today I was very pleased to see this in my inbox:

“Kelly,

The minion costumes [ these ] were absolutely AMAZING! Thank you so much!! The costumes and treat bags were adorable, authentic and comfortable — my kids loved them! So many complements from our friends and neighbors. Quality, professional work and you were a pleasure to work with. I can’t thank you enough!!!!

K___”

So it has been a pleasure thinking of a few children around the States (and Canada) who had a lovely Halloween – perhaps in part, thanks to my sewing skillz.

In another announcement:

I am going to host a sew-along here on my blog, for a flannel shirt (not the one shown here, but rather in a winter colorscheme). My thoughts are if you’re wanting to make someone a flannel shirt for the holidays? I will be here for you one hundred percent and we can DO THIS THING.

For those who want to get a head start – I will be using Jalie 2111 and you should purchase it – twenty two sizes in one envelope, so after you learn how to make this shirt you can make it for anyone you know! (No I am not an Affiliate or any such thing and receive no compensation for naming a particular pattern etc).

I am going to post a full supply list in a few days. I hope to have a few of you join me!

more Halloweening

October 22, 2013

by kellyhogaboom sewing journal

Sent off to L.A. yesterday – a size 3 “Ripslinger” costume as well as a “Bulldog” hoodie (made to go with an adorable crocheted Bulldog cap the client already possessed). This costume, oh Teh Strugglez. First, my online order for fabrics took an inordinately long time. Then, I made a prototype of the hoodie a while back and it didn’t quite work out right – I’m trying to find a home for it.

But as of yesterday the completed costume finally shipped.

Let’s face it. It’s not nearly as satisfying to get a picture of a flat-laid costume. I don’t have an adorable three year old to grab, at hand (and DAMN MY LIFE FOR THAT), so these quick shots will have to do:

(Shiny shoes courtesy of Nels).

The costume features five pieces: a pair of stovepipe-legged, flat-front sweatpants (made with long hem, so they can “grow” with child), a circular-pocket and stenciled kangaroo hoodie, a lined and be-snapped pilot cap featuring the trademark Planes-esque “eyes”, a nose cone/double-propeller, and set of wings. The clothing is all made from a very soft cotton french terry. The crafted/molded pieces are lightweight and adjustable.

Some close-ups:

The nose-cone as made by Ralph. He is my papercrafting in-house consultant.

Pilot cap with eyes! I drafted my own hat pattern. It is lined, and very cozy. My goal was for the three clothing pieces to be such that the little client can and will want to wear them as much as possible.

The back of the hoodie – little racing Checks. Again – stenciled then topstitched.

The pant leg – a paint-stenciled and topstitched flame motif, and a knit fabric applique for the “13”. I love this paint-stencil method – it gives a good result with a minimum of equipment. Do I want to be someone who can do full-blown home silkscreening? WHY YES I DO. I am baffled as to how to get started. But, there it is.

The sweats are not my pattern, for a change, but the Parsley Pants pattern by Made By Rae. They have an adorable wide-legged flare and I look forward to making them up with a woven fabric, the pattern’s recommendation.

Here’s “Bulldog” – really just the colors. Another super-fun hoodie to sew up. The pockets are the same size as the above hoodie, but since it is a smaller kiddo, they look larger in comparison.

SEWING NERD ALERT – I switched thread colors so the thread would always match the fabric used. Yes, these are all inside the garments – the “invisible” side. But, I love details like this.

For the armscye, I even switched up the top thread and bobbin thread for the corresponding fabric colors.

*I AM A DORK*

babies babies moar babies

October 15, 2013

by kellyhogaboom sewing journal

Still drowning in sewing. Thank you for asking! A quick post, though:

First – a gift sent to a friend, who is expecting her second baby. I hope she likes the style of the garment, and I hope to see adorable pictures of her Alberta, CA baby wearing the piece!

Second: two more listings on Etsy – Silk Lagoon and Tiny Creeper. Lots of fins and gills and other such ridiculousness.

Max’d out

October 5, 2013

by kellyhogaboom dailies sewing journal

This is the first year I offered custom costumes online on Etsy. I haven’t done any marketing unless you count the occasional tweet, or Ralph’s Facebook plugs now and then. Now I’m glad, because I have found myself with a good number of costumes to sew this year and I’m late on two. Given this, I am presently only taking ONE more costume item before Halloween.

I’ll be back for Christmas gift awesomeness. If you’ve thought of anything simply wonderful I should sew, let me know.

Today I took pictures in the Max I made for a 9 year old up on Bainbridge Island. I am very pleased with this Max, and I have two more to make – one for a four-year-old, and one for a grown-up! I am also happy to answer any questions you put me on making your own – so you can post them in the Flickr comments or here on this post.

Happy costuming, tweeps. May your sewing machine bobbin run smoothly, and your glue gun not burn your hands.

assemble the minions!

September 16, 2013

by kellyhogaboom dailies sewing journal

It’s Halloween season, and I’m pleased to say I am getting a bit of custom costume business. These two Minion costumes are heading off to Alberta, Canada tomorrow for a sibling pair.